Museum plans to relocate to South Lake Union

Seattle's Museum of History & Industry is "moving forward aggressively" on plans to relocate to the former Naval Reserve Armory on South Lake Union, museum officials say.

Executive Director Leonard Garfield said preliminary studies indicate costs in the range of $25 million to overhaul the building, and an additional $13 million to install the museum's exhibits and interior.

The site would remain municipal property, he said, but the museum would finance renovations in return for use of the building. After the museum and city work out the details of a partnership in the next year, construction should begin in 2009 and the new site could be open by the summer of 2011, he said.

Plans include an entirely new array of local-heritage exhibits and special galleries set aside for traveling historical exhibitions from around the world.

"It's a chance to really re-imagine how we tell the story of this region's history," said Garfield, who added that the renewal of the South Lake Union neighborhood and the city's plans for a neighborhood park were central to the museum's decision. "Plus, the building itself is a wonderful historical artifact."

Garfield also confirmed the pending sale of the museum's 800 Pike St. property to the Washington State Convention & Trade Center by Oct. 1.

MOHAI originally bought the downtown site in 2003 because of concerns that a future replacement for the Evergreen Point Bridge could interfere with its Montlake site. MOHAI has remained at its current site at McCurdy Park as it studied the pros and cons of the downtown and South Lake Union locations.

"For many years we've sought to relocate to a more central and more accessible location," Garfield said.

In studies since 2005, the South Lake Union site has won out because of its accessibility, cost and appeal to members, he explained.

The city of Seattle purchased most of the old U.S. Naval Reserve base in 2000 for city and nonprofit offices, community meetings, and special events.

Brad Haynes: 206-464-3301 or bhaynes@seattletimes.com